Television and revolution in Télé-gaucho

by Fabien Lemercier

26/07/2011 - Set up a TV channel in Paris and lead a revolution: these are the motivations of the protagonists of Michel Leclerc’s third feature Télé-gaucho [trailer], which started shooting yesterday.

After his surprise hit The Names of Love (which opened the Cannes Critics’ Week 2010, garnered 813,000 admissions in France, and won this year’s Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress Césars), the director has re-teamed with Sara Forestier, whom he has cast alongside Eric Elmosnino (Best Actor César 2011 for Gainsbourg: Je T’Aime...Moi Non Plus [trailer]), Emmanuelle Béart (soon to grace screens in Bye Bye Blondie [trailer]), Maïwenn (Poliss [trailer, film focus]) and Félix Moati.

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Co-scripted by the director and Thomas Lilti, the film is set in Paris’ 20th arrondissement. Everything begins when camcorders replace cameras. Making TV is now within everyone’s reach.

Jean Lou, Yasmina, Clara Adonis and co don’t just want to set up their own TV channel, most of all they want to lead the revolution. And so Télé-gaucho is born: it is as anarchistic and provocative as the main channels are considered conformist and reactionary.

And there follow five years of complete chaos, of vigorous demos and pirate broadcasting, boozy parties and thwarted loves, neighbourhood sitcoms and punch-ups with the cops, piss-taking and endless political discussions, dramatic splits and pitiful deceit. It is an enchanted interlude.

Produced by Emmanuel Barraux and Agnès Vallée for 31 Juin Films, Télé-gaucho has received co-production support from France 2 Cinéma and pre-acquisitions from Canal + and Ciné+. UGC is expected to distribute the film in theatres and TF1 International to manage international sales.

(Translated from French)